So as I turned 21 last week I have been thinking about what advice I would give my 15 year old self about life.I know 21 is not that old but I feel like it is such a milestone birthday from when you are younger and I really feel like now I am an adult. Along with this I feel like I have grown up a lot and matured since I went to college and especially since I have been on Erasmus. While here I have had to live by myself with shopping and bills and I have had to make new friends so I wouldn’t spend the year alone in my room. This has caused me to really come into my own and I feel like I have become ME if that makes sense. I am truly happy with the person I am right now and the people around me and looking back I thought I would jot down just 5 pieces of advice I would give my younger self about life now that I have more experience and feel I have accepted who I am and am happy with it. So here we go….

1.Don’t worry about school and tests.

Do work hard and do the best you can but don’t get hung up on results. I know there were many a time when I didn’t get a result I wanted that I was gutted but now looking back I can see that they were not the end of the world. Those tests may have seemed like the biggest thing in the world at the time but now looking back I can see that really they weren’t. By no means don’t do anything but if one tests goes bad it’s not the end of the world and even if every test goes bad even after you worked hard there is always another way to do things and you can still get to were you want to be in life. School is only such a short period of your life when you think about it , what’s 14 years in a lifetime of over 80 years (hopefully).

2.Don’t get hung up about the future.

I know towards the end of school with college applications and everything ,you are always being told to look at your future and figure out what you want to do. Well don’t worry because I am into my third year of college now and I still don’t really know what I want to do. Everything could change in the next year or 5 years who knows so don’t worry about the future and just live in the moment. Enjoy being young and free and don’t try to grow up to quickly believe me your school days will be some of your best memories even though it doesn’t feel like it now.

3.Do what you want and don’t care what people think.

Okay so I know this is easier said then done and believe me it was only when I went to college that I really started to think like this but it’s amazing. You feel so much better in yourself and just doing what you want without a care in the world is the most amazing feeling. It is your life after all so why not live it the way you want. Wear those crazy clothes or eat that whole pizza if you want or dance crazily by yourself and don’t worry about what other people think believe me your life will be so much easier and you’ll be a lot happier. Make mistakes and just live your life how you want to because no one is perfect but we are all unique in our own way.

4. Those who matter will stay in your life.

In school everyone wants to have the most friends and do everything together which is great but as time goes on you will find people will drift away from you. Your friends may go to different colleges or do things without you and you may be upset about the drifting but don’t be. The people in your life who matter will stay in it and they will be the most amazing friends you will have. You will also make many new amazing friends over the years who will be in your life for a long time to come. So don’t worry if all of a sudden all your old friends are going in different directions , there will always be those who will stay in your life and make amazing. Don’t get down and try to change yourself for people , just be who you are and those who like you for you will always be by your side.

5. Make memories.

These years are the best in your life when you are not tied down by jobs and major responsibilities so enjoy it. Whether big or small make as many memories as you can with the people you love. Go on road trips, cinema dates with your girls, stay up all night gossiping or dance your heart out to your favourite song. Live life with not a care in the world and make memories that will last you a life time. Take tonnes of pictures and keep the memories forever. Believe me when I say these will be some of the best years of your life so take full advantage of them. Enjoy!

There you go, these are just some of the things I would tell my 15 year old self now that I have grown into myself and am so content in my life right now.

What advice would you give yourself if you were to look back on years gone by?

Emma

xx